US 11,809,249 B2
Port controller with real-time fault detection
Michael Scheel, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to Alpha and Omega Semiconductor International LP, Toronto (CA)
Filed by Alpha and Omega Semiconductor International LP, Toronto (CA)
Filed on Feb. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/665,591.
Application 17/665,591 is a continuation of application No. 16/913,438, filed on Jun. 26, 2020, granted, now 11,269,390.
Prior Publication US 2022/0155838 A1, May 19, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06F 1/26 (2006.01); G06F 13/38 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 1/266 (2013.01) [G06F 13/382 (2013.01); G06F 2213/0042 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A port controller circuit configured to control power transfer on a power path between a first terminal and a second terminal, the controller circuit comprising:
first and second transistors connected in series between the first terminal and the second terminal, a control terminal of the first transistor receiving a first gate voltage and a control terminal of the second transistor receiving a second gate voltage; and
a first gate voltage control circuit configured to generate the first gate voltage driving the control terminal of the first transistor, the first gate voltage control circuit regulating the first gate voltage to keep the first transistor turned on,
wherein in response to the first gate voltage control circuit regulating the first gate voltage to a voltage value less than a first voltage level, the first gate voltage control circuit asserting a first signal to indicate a fault condition at the first transistor.